Cathy Walker thought she’d struck gold when she secured an affordable rental in Newtown. Now, she’s expecting an eviction notice.
The now 65-year-old, who is single and lives alone, rented through housing co-operatives for about three decades, before struggling to make ends meet when she was forced into the private rental market.
When she discovered she was eligible for Haven Home Safe’s affordable rental scheme and was allocated a unit at Bosanquet Ave, she believed she had found her lifelong home.
“I pay about half of what I would pay in the private rental market,” Ms Walker said.
“It means I can heat and eat and live a full and prosperous life.
“It enables me to enjoy my life.”
But Ms Walker’s future was turned on its head when she received a notice from Haven Home Safe last month stating it intended to sell three units in Bosanquet Ave.
The letter, dated April 27, said Ms Walker’s rental had been “identified for disposal in our strategic asset rejuvenation plan” and that tenants would shortly be given a 60-day vacate notice.
Ms Walker said she was “heartbroken and shocked”.
“I think that the biggest response is the fear of the unknown and what’s next,” she said.
Ms Walker said she had been told she would be placed in another home, but had not been told where it would be located.
She said she was fearful she’d be left with no choice but revert to private rentals.
“I would like to see this decision reversed … I hope they find another solution to generate revenue for other projects in a different way,” she said.
Ms Walker said the home had given her “an absolute sense of safety and security and community” and was close to amenities that she would otherwise struggle to access.
“I thought this was my forever home and I’ve invested a lot of money in my garden and amenities that I’ve added that I won’t recoup,” she said.
Haven Home Safe’s chief operations officer Vanessa Brotto said the organisation had identified 82 older homes across the state that will be sold over five years as part of its asset rejuvenation plan.
It’s understood the three Bosanquet Ave homes are the only properties currently identified for sale in Geelong.
“The sale of these older homes will create 350 new homes, that are also more energy efficient, meaning renters will have reduced energy bills,” she said.
“We understand that asking people to move out of a house they have lived in for some time can be distressing, so we work closely to support people through the relocation process.”
Ms Brotto said there were more than 67,000 people on the waitlist for housing.